Developing Chinese Language Skills 开发中文能力.pptVIP

Discussion Questions How has the Chinese writing system developed? How to use the Chinese pinyin system to learn the language? What is the art of Chinese calligraphy? Is learning Chinese calligraphy useful for learning the Chinese language? What is the relationship between language and culture? What is the role of Chinese language skills in doing business in China? Chinese Characters Origin of Chinese Characters The most sophisticated and earliest Chinese characters are the inscriptions on tortoise shells and animal bones called Oracle-bone Script (Jiaguwen) of the Shang Dynasty (17th-11th century BC) which were found at the site of the last Shang capital Yin near present-day Anyang, Henan province. The Finding of Oracle Bones Chinese Characters Evolution of Chinese Characters The next stage in the history of Chinese writing is the bronze inscriptions (Jinwen), which also resembled drawings appearing the Shang Dynasty and Western Zhou Dynasty. Five major scripts of Chinese calligraphy The art of Chinese calligraphy is closely related to the evolution of Chinese characters and evolved into five major styles with different techniques: The Seal Script (Zhuanshu) The Clerical Script (Lishu) The Standard Script (Kaishu) The Cursive Script (Caoshu) The Running Script (Xingshu) The Seal Script (篆书) Soft lines of strokes and upright rectangular shape keep the seal form characters more close to pictography. Each of the characters has a balanced and symmetrical pattern. The Clerical Script (隶书) It was the turning point in the evolution of Chinese scripts and is the foundation of the later script forms. It turned the remaining curved and round strokes of the seal form into linear and flat square shapes. The Standard Script (楷书) It is most influential script and still today’s standard writing. It is straight in line, square in form, and non-cursive in strokes. The Cursive Script (草书) This style of calligraphy is smooth and lively with strokes flowing and cha